Online community for those with cerebral palsy!

Menu

Monthly Archives: November 2017

The chat before Thanksgiving was very eventful as members talked about moving their impacted side(s), difficulty with insurance companies, inaccessible houses during the holidays, and more. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, and I will be taking you along for this week’s recap.

We begin this week’s recap with Rachel and I discussing having to purposely focus more on moving our impacted side(s):

Next, Chris and Zach discussed the difficulties of dealing with insurance companies and the added frustration that comes with knowing the proposed treatment would save money in the long run:

Finally, much of the talk in the chat was surrounding member’s holiday plans. Talk soon turned to accessibility issues members had while visiting family and strategies they had to deal with them:

Paul and Zach also discussed family member’s houses with stairs and sliding on their butts to go down them:

This brings to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What are some out of the box solutions you have used in inaccessible situations? Please share your answers in the comments and join us every Wednesday at 8 Eastern at #CPChatNow on Twitter.

Participants in the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow enjoyed thought provoking conversation Wednesday, November 15th, 2017. I am co-host Zachary Fenell, here to capture the riveting dialogue and allow you to further contemplate the various topics discussed. My co-host Devin Axtman provoked thought early as Blemi and I discussed wait times at the doctor.

While Blemi and I joked about untimely doctors, Devin supplied helpful advice and perspective. He plans at least a 30-minute wait into his schedule when he sees the doctor. When waits grow irritatingly long, Devin reminds himself not everyone possesses access to such specialists. What a great mindset!

Dreams emerged another popular topic during the chat November 15th. Seth wondered why so many guys with CP watch wrestling. In my response I suggested a possible “sub-conscious urge to be as muscular and strong.” That idea led Linds to transition the topic to dreams.

Linds asked if anyone else ends up in their dreams either able-bodied or possessing super strength. Both Seth and I never experienced those abilities in our dreams, but what about you? Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “Have you ever been completely able-bodied in your dreams?” Leave your response in the “Comments” section!

Moving on Shira Sadiky joined in the chat expressing her dislike for the term “special needs.” People within our community held passionate opinions regarding the term.

Devin theorized the term “special needs” remains people’s efforts to make disability “cute.” Shira agreed, suggesting the cuter phrasing enable those without a disability to feel better when thinking about us with disabilities. Talking out the subject left Shira frustrated, asking “They don’t even experience it so why do they get to decide?”

Empathizing Devin referenced the disability rights movement rally cry “Nothing about us without us.” The fact people make decisions regarding disabilities without talking to those with disabilities sickens Shira. I helped place context to the situation explaining how only decades ago many thought death offers a better fate than living with a disability. Said point hit home with Blemi.

Blemi recalled as a little girl telling her father she wished she was never born. Remembering the comment saddened Blemi. Shira and I however understood the difficulty and why little girl Blemi would say what she said.

Meanwhile Devin analyzed the potential reasoning behind the “Better dead than living with a disability” mentality.

Assumptions people with disabilities cannot do many tasks Devin believes powers the “better dead than living with a disability” attitude. Any incompetent assumptions get destroyed by looking at our #CPChatNow recap archives. Our community showcases thriving possibilities and will continue doing so. That leads to a couple community specific discussions. First, Devin announced our November 2017 Google Hangout date.

Hopefully you join us for our video chat via Google Hangouts Thursday, November 30th, 2017. We do not share the link publicly for privacy reasons. So if you wish to join us, message the #CPChatNow Facebook fan page.

Secondly, #CPChatNow also stands ready to start planning a new shirt sale. Initial steps involves collecting design ideas. Time to speak up on what you want to see in the next #CPChatNow gear.

Think like Shira and let us co-hosts Devin, Jorge Otezia, and I know your design ideas for the next #CPChatNow shirt. Before sharing your shirt ideas with us though, remember the extend-the-conversation question awaiting your response.

This past week’s #CPChatNow Twitter chat was eventful as always. Members discussed fixing accessibility problems at work, the helpfulness of blogging, and the independence that something like a parking tag can bring.

A continual theme on #CPChatNow has been working with employers on addressing accessibility related issues. Zach relayed a story of working with his employer to address a folding mat over a carpet:

Next, Lindsey and Zach discussed the importance of blogging in their lives. Lindsey and Zach discussed how blogging is a way to express their thoughts to the world:

Zach and Lindsey also discussed the difficulty of caring what others think:

Next, talked turned to the mixed feelings that using an aid such as a wheelchair, cane, or accessible parking placard can bring:

Zach and Veronica discussed the assistance that having an accessible parking placard can provide when navigating the giant falling hazards that are known as parking lots:

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation question: What tools related to your CP give you mixed feelings?

Another Wednesday passed Wednesday, November 1st, 2017 and with Wednesday comes another cerebral palsy Twitter chat. Obviously I, co-host Zachary Fenell, am referencing our beloved #CPChatNow. For nearly four years our chat has given us in the cerebral palsy community reason to anticipate Hump Day.

The very first #CPChatNow happened Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013. I along with fellow authors John W. Quinn (Someone Like Me: An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy) and Handicap This‘ Tim Wambach (How We Roll) joined forces to co-host the special chat. At the time we did not plan to make the chat a weekly deal. However, YOUR feedback quickly turned #CPChatNow into a weekly occurrence.

Truthfully, I felt honored putting my name alongside Tim and John’s as #CPChatNow co-founders. Both individuals I came to know about and respect through my set “cerebral palsy” Google Alerts. Connecting personally with them each started on Twitter. An opportunity no longer available with one.

John decided to leave Twitter due to increased negativity on the platform. As I explained to regular Shira Sadiky the news saddened me because others will not enjoy the same opportunity I enjoyed to connect with John. Nevertheless those around in the early days will surely recall John preaching not to dwell on problems but find solutions. That led me to ask a question.

Long-time regular Jen looked forward to learning how others stay positive and tune out negative forces. I offered up my tips. Ignore people trolling. Avoid Twitter during highly politicized events. Also hide aggressive and insulting users from your feed so you do not see their tweets.

Your turn now! Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question “How do you stay positive and tune out negative forces?”

Respond in the “Comments” section below! Then remember to join us tonight on Twitter at 8pm ET! Twitter recently expanded character limits to 280 characters. That should allow our conversations to thrive more!